Many people are suffering in São Tomé and Príncipe because society does not recognize them and blocks their fundamental rights, such as the right to work, and their human dignity. As a representative of the people, I also have to defend those who have a different sexual orientation or gender identity than me.
On August 12th, 2019, PGA Board member Hon. Levy Nazaré, MP and Vice-President of the National Assembly of São Tomé and Príncipe, took the floor during a plenary session to stand for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people.
Hon. Nazaré said that LGBTI issues are often a “taboo subject” in his country and that “it is time we start talking openly about them” because they have to do with people’s “fundamental rights.” Hon. Nazaré added: “I have the intention to talk about this because I know many people who suffer in our country because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
In his remarks, Hon. Nazaré also defined the concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity, explaining the differences between heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality, as well as between being cisgender and transgender. He said: “LGBTI people exist, we cannot say that there are no LGBTI people in São Tomé and Príncipe – this is a taboo issue, but we need to talk about it because it is a human rights issue.”
Please watch Hon. Nazaré delivering his remarks (in Portuguese):
Based on available information, this appears to be the first time that the need to discuss the rights of LGBTI people is publicly raised in the Parliament of São Tomé and Príncipe and one of the few instances in which the topic is addressed in a positive light in a parliamentary setting in Central Africa.
PGA’s SOGI Campaign, which seeks to mobilize and empower parliamentarians to take action in protecting and promoting the rights of LGBTI people, will continue to work with Hon. Nazaré and other parliamentarians to advance this goal in São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa and around the world.
